Projects

One of our favorite things about CCL is how accessible we are. Some amazing science is happening right here, from discovering new ways to make insulin, to discovering new species of mushrooms - and all you have to do to meet these amazing people in person is show up on a Wednesday evening anytime between 7pm and 10pm. We start with our CCL Working Meeting 7-8:30pm, and then get more relaxed with our weekly Social around 8:30pm to chat about projects and take time to get to know other members and interested people just like you! Want to meet the people who make this space possible? Want to get involved and lend a hand? Maybe just want to come check out CCL and see if it's the right community for you - the Wednesday evening meet-up is the best place to start! Join the potluck atmosphere by bringing drinks or snacks, or even something science or technology related that you've been working on!

Real Vegan Cheese (every other Monday)

The Real Vegan Cheese project is an award-winning collaboration between Counter Culture Labs and our sister lab BioCurious in Sunnyvale, to make real cheese without using any animals!Real Vegan Cheese is a not a cheese substitute! It all starts with regular old baker's yeast. Through synthetic biology, we engineer our yeast to become milk-protein factories. Our milk proteins are then combined with water and vegan oil to make Vegan Milk which is ultimately converted into Real Vegan Cheese through standard cheese-making processes - just like cheese made from cow or goat milk!

Plant Biology (every other Thursday)

We are a group of scientists, designers, horticulturalists, and artists with an honest and deep appreciation for the plant kingdom.Everyone here is a student. If there's something you want to learn, we'll do our best to help you learn it.Plants are some of the most elegant machines nature provides us. Their systems are capable of nearly infinite growth and the manufacturing of countless useful products. And they look great while doing it!

Mycelial Mass Mushroom Meetup (Every Other Tuesday)Engage with a community of fungi lovers who are dedicated to the study and cultivation of mycoflora and share strains, cultivation techniques, and customized agar recipes. Watch pros like Alan Rockefeller DNA sequence new species of mushroom, or jumpstart new cultured varieties of edible and medicinal mushrooms from liquid cultures, agar plates, grow bags, or wild specimens. Learn to use mycelium to make physical objects like bowls and cups, mycofabrics, and biodegradable packing materials. Overall, just join an amazing group of likeminded mycophiles! Check out our meetup page here and like our facebook page here!

Art & Science

Come by CCL at Omni Commons to show, tell and share anything that you are interested in relating to the intersection of art with science, math and engineering.Do you have a neato thing you've created that you want to show and perhaps get creative feedback?Do you have an idea of something you would like to build?Did you see an inspiring video you would like to share and discuss? See the latest ArtSci event scheduled from our Meetup page and join our ArtSci Google group at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/cclartsci.

Open Insulin (Wednesdays and Sundays)

Developing the first open source protocol to produce insulin simply and economically. Our work may serve as a basis for generic production of this life-saving drug and provide a firmer foundation for continued research into improved versions of insulin.Support our crowdfunding campaign on Experiment.com! Help make affordable insulin available to millions worldwide.

Fermentation Station (Wednesdays 7:30-9pm)

This is an herbal mead making class that covers a wide range of related material and ferments. As we progress well be delving into the various special ingredients including rejuvenative herbs and mushrooms, extracts, fortifications, and flavorings, besides enhancing our regular brews.

Weekly Class Series (Saturday mornings 10:30am-12:30pm)

Each Saturday, a member of CCL will host an hour-and-a-half long class on the topic of their choosing. Classes are open to other CCL members and the general public. A minimal fee to cover supplies and prep time may be requested, however no one will be turned away for lack of funds! Recurring topics include Intro to the Lab and a Synthetic Biology 101 class series.

Want to be involved with Counter Culture but can't make it in person? Donate! We are a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit, so all donations are tax-deductible. Because all of our staff are volunteers, 100% of the funds raised go right back into the lab.